Who would have thought that after the thumping they received in 2008, that the Republican party could remain competitive in the Northeast? Then again, ever since Karl Rove's divisive electoral strategy of treating slim victories as ideological mandates, political invective has grown ever more acutely personal. The "Daisy" attack ad by Lyndon B. Johnson, controversial at the time, seems positively quaint, in retrospect.

But now political ads are getting more vicious--and more shallow. It seems mocking your opponent's appearance is fair game.

Earlier this month, New Jersey Governor Jim Corzine (D) -- caught up in a surprisingly close run for re-election -- unleashed a strong negative campaign on his Republican opponent, former US Attorney Chris Christie. It was not pretty. As the New York Times put it:

Mr. Corzine's television commercials and Web videos feature unattractive images of Mr. Christie, sometimes shot from the side or backside, highlighting his heft, jowls and double chin.

It's happening here in NYC, as well. New York is reporting that the Communications Workers of America union will begin running $500,000 worth of TV ads this week supporting New York Comptroller Bill Thompson which will focus on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's physical appearance.

Has our democracy come to this? It isn't pretty.